Apparatus and method for transmitting video data from a mobile communication terminal

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for transmitting video data to a receiving terminal is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an event processing unit for outputting a signal to store a selected portion of the video data that is currently being reproduced, a video data reproduction unit for receiving the signal from the event processing unit and storing the selected portion of the video data that is currently being reproduced in response to the outputted signal while reproducing the video data. A message transmission unit is further provided for attaching the stored selected portion of the video data that is currently being reproduced to a message and transmitting the message to the receiving terminal. A data storage unit stores the video data and the selected portion of the video data.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(a), this application claims the benefit ofearlier filing date and right of priority to Korean Application No.10-2004-0012388, filed on Feb. 24, 2004, the contents of which arehereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method fortransmitting video data from a mobile communication terminal.

2. Description of the Related Art

With the increase in the availability of highly integrated memory andthe transmission speed of large-scale data, a mobile communicationterminal (“terminal”) may store and transmit a text message, a stillimage or a melody, and record, store, edit and transmit video.

Users are increasingly recording video through the terminal ortransmitting stored video to other terminals.

During transmission of video data or an audio signal synchronized with avideo signal between terminals, a conventional terminal cannot transmitthe video data when the video data is being reproduced. A user must stopreproducing the video data, write a message, attach the video data to betransmitted to the message, and transmit the message to anotherterminal. In other words, conventional terminals transmit video data byseparately implement reproduction of video data and transmission of amessage to which the video data file is attached.

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a conventional terminal apparatus, includingsignal flow through the apparatus, for transmitting video data from aterminal.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the apparatus for transmitting the videodata includes a key input unit 110, an event processing unit 120, avideo data reproduction unit 130, a message transmission unit 140, adata storage unit 150, an output processing unit 160, and a callprocessing unit 170. The descriptions for these units are given below.

Upon a user pressing an option key, the key input unit 110 recognizesthe pressed key. The key input unit 110 determines, for example, if thepressed key is a video data reproduction start key, a video datareproduction stop key, or a message transmission start key. The keyinput unit 110 transmits the result of the determination to the eventprocessing unit 120.

The event processing unit 120 notifies the video reproduction unit 130and the message transmission unit 140 of an event. Examples of an eventinclude a video data reproduction start event, a video data reproductionstop event, and a message transmission start event.

The video data reproduction unit 130 reads video data selected by theuser from the data storage unit 150 and reproduces the video data.

The message transmission unit 140 writes a message, attaches a selectedvideo data file to the written message, and attempts to transmit themessage attached to a video data file according to a data transmissionprotocol.

The video data file and related information are stored in the datastorage unit 150.

The output processing unit 160 audiovisually notifies a user ofreproduction information of the video data and terminal information.

The call processing unit 170 transmits the message to a receivingterminal in accordance with directions from the message transmissionunit 140.

Hereinafter, a method for transmitting video data from a conventionalterminal will be described with reference to signal flow diagram ofFIGS. 1A and 1B.

A user presses a video data reproduction key after selecting the videodata to be reproduced from a list of videos stored in the data storageunit 150. The key input unit 110 determines that the pressed key is avideo data reproduction start key. The key input unit 110 notifies theevent processing unit 120 of the determination. The event processingunit 120 notifies the reproduction unit 130 of a video data reproductionstart event corresponding to the determination. The event processingunit 120 activates the video data reproduction unit 130 and notifies thevideo data reproduction unit 130 of selected video data information.

The video data reproduction unit 130 reads the selected video data fromthe data storage unit 150 and reproduces the read video data.

To transmit the video data currently being reproduced, the user stopsreproducing the video data.

The user presses a key to stop reproduction of the video data currentlybeing reproduced. The key input unit 110 determines the pressed key isintended to stop video data reproduction, and notifies the eventprocessing unit 120 of the determination. The event processing unit 120notifies the video data reproduction unit 130 to stop reproducing videodata and deactivates the video data reproduction unit 130.

The video data reproduction unit 130 stops reproducing the video dataand notifies the event processing unit 120 that reproduction hasstopped. The event processing unit 120 notifies the output processingunit 130 that the video data reproduction unit 130 is deactivated. Theoutput processing unit 160 indicates, on a terminal screen the videodata reproduction unit 130 is deactivated.

To transmit the video data for which reproduction of has stopped, theuser presses a message transmission key. The key input unit 110determines the pressed key is for message transmission and notifies theevent processing unit 120. The event processing unit 120 notifies themessage transmission unit 140 of a message transmission eventcorresponding to the pressed key and activates the message transmissionunit 140.

The user writes a message utilizing the message transmission unit 140.The message transmission unit 140 attaches the written message to aselected video data file, and attempts to transmit the message throughthe call processing unit 170.

Upon complete transmission of the message, the message transmission unit140 notifies the event processing unit 120 and the event processing unit120 notifies the output processing unit 160.

The output processing unit 160 audiovisually notifies the user thattransmission of the message, and the video data file has been completed.

In summary, a user of a conventional terminal desiring to transmit avideo data currently being reproduced must stop reproducing the videodata and transmit a message to which the entire video data file isattached. To transmit a portion of the video data, the user is requiredto edit the video data using editing software before transmission. Anedited version of the video data and the editing software requireseparate storage locations.

Therefore, there is a need for an improved apparatus and method fortransmitting video data that provides additional advantages overconventional terminals and increases user convenience.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in thedescription which follows, and in part will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Theobjectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized andattained by the structure particularly pointed out in the writtendescription and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

In one embodiment, an apparatus for transmitting video data to areceiving terminal is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an eventprocessing unit for outputting a signal to store a selected portion ofthe video data that is currently being reproduced and a video datareproduction unit for receiving the signal from the event processingunit and storing the selected portion of the video data that iscurrently being reproduced in response to a signal from the eventprocessing unit during reproduction of the video data. A messagetransmission unit is further provided for attaching the stored selectedportion of the video data that is currently being reproduced to amessage and transmitting the message to the receiving terminal. A datastorage unit stores the video data and the selected portion of the videodata.

A user may designate the selected portion of the video data. The videodata reproduction unit preferably, upon completion of storing theselected portion of the video data, temporarily stops reproducing thevideo data.

In another embodiment, a method of transmitting video data to areceiving terminal is disclosed. The method comprises storing a selectedportion of the video data while the video data is being reproduced,attaching the stored selected portion of video data to a message, andtransmitting the message to the receiving terminal.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe description which follows, and in part will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. It is to beunderstood that both the foregoing general description and the followingdetailed description of the present invention are exemplary andexplanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of theinvention as claimed.

These and other embodiments will also become readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art from the following detailed description of theembodiments having reference to the attached figures, the invention notbeing limited to any particular embodiments disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

Features, elements, and aspects of the invention that are referenced bythe same numerals in different figures represent the same, equivalent,or similar features, elements, or aspects in accordance with one or moreembodiments.

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a structure and signal flow of an apparatusfor transmitting video data to a receiving terminal according to theconventional art.

FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate a structure and signal flow of an apparatus fortransmitting video data to a receiving terminal according to a firstembodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate a structure and signal flow of an apparatus fortransmitting video data to a receiving terminal according to a secondembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for efficientlytransmitting video data while minimizing the resources required by amobile communication terminal.

Although the invention is illustrated with respect to a mobile terminal,it is contemplated that the invention may be utilized wherever it isdesired to efficiently transmit data, such as video data, that requiresediting in a communication system while minimizing the size of a datastorage location and reducing user inconvenience. Reference will now bemade in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention,examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The preferred embodiments transmit video data facilitating increaseduser convenience and data storage efficiency. More specifically, thepreferred embodiments specify a portion of the video data fortransmission from currently reproduced video data. The preferredembodiment transmits the specified portion of the video data includingan attached message.

FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate a structure and signal flow of an apparatus fortransmitting video data to a receiving terminal according to a firstembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 2A-2C, an apparatus for transmitting the video datafrom the terminal includes a key input unit 210, an event processingunit 220, a video data reproduction unit 230, a message transmissionunit 240, a data storage unit 250, an output processing unit 260, and acall processing unit 270. Functions of each of these constituentelements are discussed below.

When a user presses an option key, the key input unit 210 recognizesthat the option key has been pressed. The key input unit 210 determinesthe pressed key. The pressed key, for example, may be a video datareproduction start key, a video data storage start key, or a video datastorage termination key. The key input unit 210 transmits thedetermination to the event processing unit 220.

The event processing unit 220 notifies the video data reproduction unit230 and the message transmission unit 140 of an event. The event, forexample, may be a video data reproduction start event, a video datastorage start event, or a video data storage termination eventcorresponding to the pressed key.

The video data reproduction unit 230 reads video data selected by theuser from the data storage unit 250, and reproduces the read video data.The video data reproduction unit 230 stores a selected portion of thevideo data specified by a user while the selected video data is beingreproduced. The data storage unit 250 temporarily stores positioninformation of the video data that is currently being reproduced.

The message transmission unit 240 writes a message and attaches thevideo data selected for transmission to the message. The messagetransmission unit 240, in accordance with a data transmission protocol,attempts transmission of the message.

The data storage unit 250 stores the video data, the selected portion ofthe video data specified by the user, the stop position information ofthe video data currently being reproduced, and any related information.

The output processing unit 260 audiovisually notifies the user regardinginformation related to reproducing the video data and information aboutthe terminal.

The call processing unit 270 transmits the message attached to the videodata to a receiving terminal in accordance with instructions from themessage transmission unit 240.

A method for transmitting video data to a receiving terminal accordingto the first embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to the signal flow diagram shown in FIGS. 2A-2C.

Upon a user pressing a video data reproduction start key, the key inputunit 210 recognizes the pressed key. The event processing unit 220transmits a video data reproduction event, corresponding to therecognized pressed key, and video data reproduction information to thevideo data reproduction unit 230. The video data reproduction unit 230reads the corresponding video data from the data storage unit 250. Thevideo data reproduction unit 230 reproduces the read video data inaccordance with the transmitted video information and the video datareproduction event. The user designates a start position and a stopposition for a portion of the video data selected for transmission whilethe video data is being reproduced.

The video data reproduction unit 230 temporarily stores, from the startposition to the stop position, video data in the data storage unit 250,temporarily stops reproduction of the video data upon completion ofvideo data storage, and temporarily stores the stop position informationof video data currently being reproduced in the data storage unit 250.The event processing unit 220 recognizes the reproduction of the videodata temporarily stopped and reactivates the message transmission unit240.

The message transmission unit 240 attaches the temporarily stored videodata to a user message. The call processing unit 270 transmits themessage attached to the video data to a receiving terminal. The outputprocessing unit 260, upon complete transmission of the message,audiovisually notifies a user of message transmission. The reproductionunit 230 resumes reproducing the video data based on the stored stopposition information.

Hereinafter, the method of transmitting video data from a terminalaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed in more detail.

After searching a list of the video data stored in the data storage unit250, a user presses the video data reproduction start key, and videodata is selected. The key input unit 210 determines that the video datareproduction start key has been pressed. The key input unit 210 notifiesthe event processing unit 220. The event processing unit 220 notifiesthe video data reproduction unit 230 of a video data reproduction startevent and information regarding the selected video data, and reactivatesthe video data reproduction unit 230.

The video data reproduction unit 230 reads the selected video data fromthe data storage unit 250 and reproduces the selected video data.

When a portion of the selected video data is reproduced, a userdesignates, via the key input unit 210, a start position used fortransmitting a portion of the selected video data. The key input unit210 notifies the event processing unit 220 that a video data storagestart key has been pressed. The event processing unit 220 notifies thevideo processing unit 230 that a portion of the video data currentlybeing reproduced is the start position for transmission.

The video data reproduction unit 230 continues reproducing the videodata and stores the video data from the start position in the datastorage unit 250.

The user designates, via a key stroke, a stop position for the portionof the video data for transmission. The key input unit 210 notifies theevent processing unit 220 that the designated stop position of the videodata is to be transmitted. The event processing unit 220 notifies thevideo data reproduction unit 230 upon completion of storing the videodata.

The video data reproduction unit 230 stops storing the video data andtemporarily stops reproduction of the video data. The video datareproduction unit 230 temporarily stores stop position information ofthe video data currently being reproduced in the data storage unit 250,and notifies the event processing unit 220 that reproduction of thevideo data has stopped.

The event processing unit 220 activates the message transmission unit240. The message transmission unit 240 attaches the video datatemporarily stored in the data storage unit 250 to a message. Themessage transmission unit 240 attempts to transmit the message to areceiving terminal.

Upon complete transmission of the message, the message transmission unit240 deletes the video data temporarily stored in the data storage unit250. The message transmission unit 240 notifies the event processingunit 220 that the temporarily stored video data has been deleted uponcompletion of message transmission.

The event processing unit 220 reactivates the video data reproductionunit 230. The video data reproduction unit 230 resumes reproduction ofthe video based on the stop position information stored in the datastorage unit 250.

FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate a structure and signal flow of an apparatus fortransmitting video data to a receiving terminal according to a secondembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 3A-3C, the apparatus includes a voice input unit 310,an event processing unit 220, a video data reproduction unit 230, amessage transmission unit 240, a data storage unit 250, an outputprocessing unit 260, and a call processing unit 270. Functions of eachof the units are described below.

Upon a user issuing an optional voice command, the voice input unit 310recognizes the voice command and determines the contents of the voicecommand. The voice command may be a video data reproduction startcommand, a video data storage start command, or a video data storagetermination command. The voice input unit 310 transmits the result ofthe determination to the event processing unit 220.

The event processing unit 220 notifies the video data reproduction unit230 and the message transmission unit 240 of the event corresponding tothe voice command.

The video data reproduction unit 230 reads the video data selected bythe user from the data storage unit 250 and reproduces the read videodata. The video data reproduction unit 230 stores a selected portion ofa video data specified by the user during reproduction of the selectedvideo data and stop position information of the video data currentlybeing reproduced in the data storage unit 250.

The message transmission unit 240 writes a message, attaches the videodata selected for transmission to the written message, and attempts totransmit the message according to a data transmission protocol.

The data storage unit 250 stores the video data, the selected portion ofthe data specified by the user, the temporarily stored stop positioninformation of the video data currently being reproduced, and relatedinformation.

The output processing unit 260 notifies the user regarding reproductioninformation regarding the video data and terminal information.

The call processor 270 transmits the message and the selected portion ofthe video data to the receiving terminal in accordance with instructionsfrom the message transmission unit 240.

A method of transmitting video data to a receiving terminal according tothe second embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to the signal flow as shown in FIGS. 3A-3C.

The user issues a video data reproduction start voice command and thevoice input unit 310 recognizes the voice command. The event processingunit 220 transmits a video data reproduction event corresponding to therecognized voice command along with video reproduction information tothe video data reproduction unit 230. The video data reproduction unit230 reads the video data from the data storage unit 250, reproduces theread video data, and stores a specified portion of the video data. Whilethe video data is being reproduced, the user designates a start positionand a stop position for transmission of a selected portion of the videodata.

The video data reproduction unit 230 temporarily stores the video data,from the designated start position to the designated stop position, inthe data storage unit and temporarily stops reproducing the video datauntil completion of video data storage. The video data reproduction unit230 temporarily stores stop position information of the video datacurrently being reproduced in the data storage unit 250. The eventprocessing unit 220 recognizes that reproduction of the video data hasbeen temporarily stopped and activates the message transmission unit240. The message transmission unit 240 attaches the temporarily storedvideo data to a message.

The message is attached to the video data for transmission through acall processing unit to the receiving terminal. The output processingunit 260 audiovisually notifies the user that message transmission iscomplete. The video data reproduction unit 230 resumes reproducing thevideo data based on the stored stop position information of the videodata currently being reproduced in the data storage unit 250.

Hereinafter, the method of transmitting the video of the terminalaccording to the second embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed in detail.

The user searches a list of the video data stored in the data storageunit 250, selects video data, and issues a video data reproduction voicecommand. The voice input unit 310 determines the voice command indicatesvideo data reproduction start and notifies the event processing unit 220of the result. The event processing unit 220 notifies the video datareproduction unit 230 of a video data reproduction start eventcorresponding to the determination along with information regarding theselected video data and activates the video data reproduction unit 230.

The video data reproduction unit 230 reads the selected video data fromthe data storage unit 250 and reproduces the read video data.

A portion of the selected video data being reproduced is selected fortransmission. If a start position of the portion to be transmitted isdesignated by a user issuing a voice command, the voice input unit 310notifies the event processing unit 220 that a video data storage startvoice command has been issued. The event processing unit 220 notifiesthe video data reproduction unit 230 that the portion currently beingreproduced is the start position of the portion to be transmitted.

The video data reproduction unit 230 continues reproducing the videodata and stores the video data from the designated start position in thedata storage unit 250.

The user designates a stop position for a portion of the video dataselected for transmission by issuing a voice command. The voice inputunit 310 notifies the event processing unit 220 that the designated stopposition is for the video data to be transmitted. The event processingunit 220 notifies the video data reproduction unit 230 upon terminationof video data storage.

The video data reproduction unit 230 terminates video data storage andtemporarily stops reproducing the video data. The video datareproduction unit restores stop position information of the video datacurrently being reproduced in the data storage unit 250. The video datareproduction unit notifies the event processing unit 220 upontemporarily stopping reproduction of the video data.

The event processing unit 220 activates the message transmission unit240. The message transmission unit 240 attaches the video data stored inthe data storage unit 250 to a message the user has written, andattempts transmission through the call processing unit 270.

When transmission of the message is completed, the message transmissionunit 240 deletes the video data temporarily stored in the data storageunit 250. The message transmission unit 240 notifies the eventprocessing unit 220 upon completion of message transmission and deletionof the temporarily stored video data.

The event processing unit 220 reactivates the video data reproductionunit 230. The video data reproduction unit 230 resumes reproducing thevideo data based on the stored stop position information of the videodata currently being reproduced and completes processing of the videotransmission.

The present invention provides video data reproduction whereby a usercan select a selected portion of the video data for transmission to aspecific terminal. After transmission is completed, the video datatemporarily stored but previously transmitted is automatically deleted.A separate video editing software and an editing process are notrequired. Accordingly, a user's convenience is increased, and storagespace required for a terminal is reduced.

As the present invention may be embodied in several forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, itshould also be understood that the above-described embodiments are notlimited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unlessotherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within itsspirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore allchanges and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of theclaims, or equivalence of such metes and bounds are therefore intendedto be embraced by the appended claims.

Although the present invention is described in the context of a mobileterminal, the present invention may also be used in any wired orwireless communication systems using mobile devices, such as PDAs andlaptop computers equipped with wired and wireless communicationcapabilities. Moreover, the use of certain terms to describe the presentinvention should not limit the scope of the present invention to certaintype of wireless communication system, such as UMTS. The presentinvention is also applicable to other wireless communication systemsusing different air interfaces and/or physical layers, for example,TDMA, CDMA, FDMA, WCDMA, etc.

1. A method of a terminal for transmitting video data to a receivingterminal, the method comprising: reproducing the video data on a displayunit of the terminal upon receiving via an input unit of the terminal afirst input triggering reproduction of the video data; beginning storageof a selected portion of the video data for transmitting to thereceiving terminal in a data storage unit of the terminal upon receivingvia the input unit of the terminal a second input designating a startposition for the selected portion of the video data while the video datais being reproduced by the terminal; and upon receiving via the inputunit a third input designating a stop position for the selected portionof the video data for transmitting to the receiving terminal,(a)stopping reproduction of the video data and storing the stop positionfor the selected portion of the video data in the data storage unit; (b)attaching the selected portion of the video data to a message; (c)transmitting the message with the selected portion of the video data tothe receiving terminal; (d) resuming the reproduction of the video datafrom the stop position upon completing the transmitting the message withthe selected portion of the video data; and (e) deleting the selectedportion of the video data stored in the data storage unit, wherein (a)through (e) are sequentially performed without any further user inputafter being triggered by the third input designating the stop positionfor the selected portion of the video data.
 2. The method of claim 1,further comprising providing notification of a user initiated event. 3.The method of claim 2, wherein the user initiated event is one of avideo data reproduction start event, a video data storage start event,and a video data storage termination event.
 4. An apparatus fortransmitting video data from a terminal, the apparatus comprising: anevent processing unit for outputting a signal to store a selectedportion of the video data that is currently being reproduced uponreceiving a first input; a display unit for displaying the video data; avideo data reproduction unit for storing the selected portion of thevideo data that is currently being reproduced in response to the signalfrom the event processing unit while the video data is being reproduced;a message transmission unit for attaching the selected portion of thevideo data to a message and transmitting the message to a receivingterminal with the selected portion of the video data; and a data storageunit for storing the video data and the selected portion of the videodata, wherein a start position of the selected portion of the video datais designated by the first input and a stop position of the selectedportion of the video data is designated by a second input, both thefirst input and the second input are received while the video data isbeing reproduced, wherein the selected portion of the video data isselected and stored in response to the first input and the second input,wherein, in response to the second input, (a) reproduction of the videodata is stopped and the stop position of the video data is stored in thedata storage unit, (b) the selected portion of the video data isattached to the message, (c) the message with the selected portion ofthe video data is transmitted to the receiving terminal, (d) thereproduction of the video data is resumed from the stop position, and(e) the selected portion of the video data stored in the data storageunit is deleted, and wherein (a) through (e) are sequentially performedwithout any further user input after being triggered by the second inputdesignating the stop position for the selected portion of the videodata.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the event processing unitnotifies the video data reproduction unit and the message transmissionunit of an event.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the event is oneof a video data reproduction start event, a video data storage startevent, and a video data storage termination event.
 7. The apparatus ofclaim 4, further comprising: a voice input unit configured to recognizea voice command for manipulating the video data.
 8. The apparatus ofclaim 4, wherein the apparatus is a mobile communication terminal. 9.The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising: an output processing unitconfigured to audiovisually notify a user of a message transmission uponcompletion of the message transmission.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9,wherein the message transmission unit notifies the event processing unitthat the video data has been deleted upon completion of the messagetransmission.
 11. The method of claim 1, further comprisingaudiovisually notifying a user of a message transmission upon completingthe message transmission.
 12. The method of claim 1, further comprisingnotifying a user that the selected portion of the video data has beendeleted from the data storage unit upon deleting the selected portion ofthe video data.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the input unitcomprises a voice input unit configured to recognize a voice command.14. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first input and the secondinput are received via an input unit comprising a voice input unitconfigured to recognize a voice command.